Turning the tide: Reversing heritage language attrition and shift in a Chinese American family

Abstract

ABSTRACT:Families immigrating to English-speaking countries, such as Chinese families in the USA, typically undergo language shift to English within three generations. In principle, however, language shift can be reversed, as documented in the case of certain endangered languages. In a case study of a three-generation Chinese American family, we show how heritage language attrition and inter-generational language shift can be reversed. The birth of a third generation motivates the second-generation parents to resume speaking and acquiring Chinese. Awareness of the advantages of bilingualism and recognition of a Chinese American identity lead the second-generation parents to transmit Chinese language and culture to the third generation.摘要:移民至英语国家的家庭，比如在美华裔家庭，通常会在三代人的时间 内就不再传承母语，转而使用英语。然而这种趋势并非不可逆转，如 某些濒危语言研究所示。本文通过一个在美华裔家庭三代人的案例研 究，阐述如何扭转继承语磨蚀的趋势和第二、第三代的语言转向。第 三代的出生促使第二代重拾母语，增加母语的使用，继而提升其母语 能力。同时，第二代对拥有双语能力优势的体认以及他们对华裔身分 的认同，也更进一步促使汉语语言文化代代相传。